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What are the Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency?

What are the Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency?

Darrell Miller

07/04/11

Date: July 04, 2011 09:00 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: What are the Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency?

Magnesium is a very pervasive element at the cellular level. It is most abundant in the skeletal system, but it is found in all cells throughout the human body. Catalytic action of enzymes needs the presence of this dietary element, and cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate requires magnesium ions to exert biologically active roles. Low levels of magnesium are likely to influence these processes.

Due to its diverse physiological roles, magnesium deficiency has been tied to the following symptoms:

Physical Fatigue

A general feeling of weakness is the classic symptom of magnesium deficiency. Individuals who have depleting levels of this chemical element are prone to physical exhaustion that often results in fatigue. Magnesium is central to the metabolism of adenosine triphosphate, or chemical energy. When people experience impairment in the production of energy, they become more susceptibility to chronic stress.

Muscle Spasms

Magnesium ions are indispensable component of the basic nucleic acid chemistry of life. The largest concentrations of elemental magnesium are present in the bones. On the other hand, skeletal muscles account for 50 per cent of the total magnesium of the body. The availability of this mineral within the muscles maintains neuromuscular function, and its absence leads to abnormal muscular contractions.

Digestive Problems

Chronic diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and related symptoms are often indicative of depleting levels of dietary magnesium. In fact, the process of digestion itself is compromised when the human body is deprived of this mineral for long periods of time as all enzymes that use adenosine triphosphate in any of the chemical reactions they are involved in are essentially impaired with low levels of magnesium.

Insulin Resistance

People who have uncontrolled blood sugar is at great risk of developing insulin resistance when their magnesium levels are going down. Insulin resistance results in diabetes mellitus in most cases. For one, elemental magnesium is crucial to the metabolism of carbohydrates, and affects the regulation of serum glucose levels. Regular intake of magnesium has proven to help improve blood sugar levels.

Nutrient Malabsorption

The effects of magnesium on human health are far reaching, and the effects of magnesium deficiency have been observed to be equally serious. In addition to its deleterious effects on metabolic processes, low levels of magnesium have been incriminated in faulty absorption of bioactive compounds in the digestive tract. This worsens preexisting medical conditions and often requires intravenous magnesium.

Cardiac Arrhythmia

Many people are not aware of their magnesium intake. In the US alone, 60 per cent of the population does not meet the daily value for magnesium. A significant fraction of this figure has been linked to abnormal heart rhythm, and some cases are life-threatening that require medical emergency. The good news is that supplementation has been proven effective in treating magnesium deficiency.

You may have a magnesium deficency and not even know it. Try some magnesium today and feel the difference!